The Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has said that the government is on course in delivering its development agenda to the people.
Speaking during an education empowerment drive at Kajiado Central Constituency, Kindiki affirmed that the government is keen on fostering development and alleviating the challenges facing the Kenyan people.
“During the campaigns back in 2022, we promised to bring in a new health programme for the country which will not discriminate against some Kenyan citizens. We have already rolled out The Social Health Authority (SHA) which is open to all Kenyans for registration regardless of their income level. We are glad that over 24.7 million Kenyans have already registered for SHA with over 500, 000 Kajiado residents out of 1.1 million people already registered. Let us all enroll for SHA so as to protect ourselves from very high medical bills when we fall sick,” he said.
He also said that the government is ensuring that every household in Kenya is connected to the national power grid through the last mile electrification programme.
In Kajiado county, the last mile connectivity project has been allocated Sh700 million, though the DP pledged to double the amount to Sh1.4 million.
The Deputy President also noted that the government is currently building 400 modern markets throughout the country so that small scale business people could have a conducive environment to carry out their businesses. Out of the 400 markets, 12 are being built in Kajiado County.
“We also have the affordable housing programme which is creating job opportunities for the young people as architects, quantity surveyors, electricians, masons, engineers, plumbers and casuals. In Kajiado town, we are constructing 198 housing units, 1,800 units in Kitengela while 2,000 units are under construction in the Vet farm in Ngong,” he said.
He revealed that the affordable housing programme also has a component of constructing hostels in polytechnics and technical institutions across the country so that they curb drug and alcohol abuse among the youth.
Under the programme, 1,400 hostel units are set to be constructed in the Maasai Technical Training institute.
The DP affirmed that the government is keen on ensuring that it creates jobs for over 200,000 youth through the Kazi Mtaani climate workz in all the 47 counties.
He revealed that over 320,000 youth have already benefitted from jobs created through the affordable housing and modern markets programmes.
“ICT hubs are also in the pipeline so that the youth can work online in addition to the Kazi Majuu programme which will help secure jobs for the youth in the diaspora. In the last two years, the government has helped over 400,000 youth to get jobs through the programme,” he said.
He cited that President William Ruto has directed the Youth Enterprise Fund to provide loans for the medical exams, passport and air tickets for the youth who have secured international jobs but do not have the money to facilitate them so that the job opportunities are not wasted.
In addition, the DP further revealed that the ‘Nyota programme’ which will fund 70 small and micro-enterprises in every ward countrywide would also be launched this year.
By Diana Meneto
